Durable-press and soil-release compositions

ABSTRACT

A durable-press soil-release agent comprising a durable-press aminoplast resin precursor, a selected water soluble organic acid or sulfonic acid salt containing amino or hydroxyl groups, and a selected surface active agent.

I United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,778,226

Kissa Dec. 11, 1973 [54] DURABLE-PRESS AND SOIL-RELEASE 3,377,249 4/1968Marco 8/1 16.3 COMPOSITIONS 3,521,993 7/1970 Swidler et al..... 8/116.33,165,374 1/1965 Hushebeck 13/1163 Inventor: Erik Klssa, Wflmmgton,1361- 3,429,651 2/1969 r1161 et a1 8/1 16.3 [73] Assignee: E 1. du Pontde Nemours and C0., FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS wllmmgton 1,081,03411/1965 Great Britain 8/116.3 [22] Filed: Apr. 15, 1970 OTHERPUBLICATIONS [21] Appl Marsh, J. T., Crease Resisting Fabrics, New York,

- Reinhold Publishing Corporation, 133-140 (1962) [52] US. Cl 8/1l5.5,8/115.6, 8/l15.7,

8/1 16.2, 8/116.3, 8/D1G. 4, 8/DIG. 21, Primary ExaminerGeorge F. Lesmes3 -7, 252/8-75, 252/8-3, Assistant Examiner-J. Cannon 252/8.9, 252/431,252/434, 252/438, Att0rneyGa1'y A. Samuels 252/440, 260/294 R, 260/3097,38/144 [51] Int. Cl. D06m 15/56, D06m 15/58 [58] Field of Search8/ll5.6, 116.3, 116.2, [57] ABSTRACT 3/1155 115 1 131; 2 0/294; 252/8 7A durable-press soil-release agent. comprising a dura- 3 75 g3 39 431434 43 440 ble-press aminoplast resin precursor, a selected watersoluble organic acid or sulfonic acid salt containing [56] References Ciamino or hydroxyl groups, and a selected surface active agent.

3 Claims, No Drawings DURABLE-PRESS AND SOIL-RELEASE COMPOSITIONSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION a. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to novel compositions for imparting a permanent crease(durable-press) and soilrelease properties to textile fabrics. Morespecifically, this invention is directed to compositions comprising adurable-press aminoplast resin precursor, an organic carboxylic acid orsulfonic acid salt, containing an amino or hydroxyl group, and aselected surface active agent.

b. Description of the Prior Art Permanent press or durable-presstreatments of fabrics have gained widespread acceptance as a means ofimparting permanent creases in textiles such as trousers, shirts,blouses and the like, even after repeated washing and cleaning. However,these treatments have resulted in poor soil release properties in thetreated fabrics, i.e., once the treated fabric is soiled, the fabric isdifficult to clean. There has, therefore, been a need for a compositionthat is compatible with the permanent crease resin and which promotesthe removal of soil particles or stains from the fibers making up thefabric. Attempts to provide such a soil-release agent compatible with adurable-press resin have in general been unsatisfactory, leading to padbath instability (i.e., incompatibility of ingredients in the bath usedto pad or treat the textile), running of treated fabric, poor hand inthe fabric (i.e., stiffness of the treated fabric), or slimy feel towashed textiles.

Accordingly, it is one purpose of this invention to provide adurable-press soil-release composition which results in treatmentprocedures and treated textiles that are free of the above listeddeficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A durable-press soil-release compositioncomprising:

A. a permanerltpress aminoplast resin precursor that is formed byreacting an aqueous solution of formaldehyde, glyoxal and urea in a moleratio of about 2.52.0/1.0/1.0 at a pH of about 4 to about 6 and at atemperature of between about 25-95C. for between about one-half hour and72 hours;

B. a water soluble organic acid or salt thereof selected from 1. ahydrocarbon carboxylic acid of between two and nine carbon atoms whichcan contain up to three carboxyl groups and which contains between oneand five substituents selected from hydroxyl, amino or both,

2. an alkali metal, ammonium or lower alkyl substituted ammonium salt ofa hydrocarbon sulfonic acid of between two and ten carbon atoms, whichcan contain up to four sulfonic groups and between one and sixsubstituents selected from hydroxyl, amino or both,

3. proline or,

4. hydroxyproline C. at least one surface active agent selected from 1.anionic surface active agents selected from RO- SO M, R(SO M) RO(C HO),,SO M,

wherein R is alkyl, alkaryl or alkenyl of 10-26 carbon atoms; M is acation selected'from alkali metal, ammonium, ammonium substituted withl-4 lower alkyl groups, or ammonium substituted with 1-3 lowerhydroxyalkyl groups, R is alkyl of two to 10 carbon atoms, x is acardinal number of 1 through 6, n is a car dinal number of4 through 40,y is l or 2, z is a cardinal number of 1 through 5 and a is a cardinalnumber of 1 through 3; or

2. amphoteric surface active agents selected from where R" is alkyl of10-18 carbon atoms and b is 1 or 2; and

where R" is alkyl of 10-18 carbon atoms; the weight ratio of organicacid to durable-press resin being between 1:12 and 10:3, and the weightratio of surface ac- 'tive agent to durable-press resin being between1:60 to DESCRIPTION The compositions of this invention impart durablepress characteristics to textiles while at the same time impartingsoil-release properties The durable-press aminoplast resin precursor isde scribed in greater detail in U. S. Pat. No. 3,049,446. The product ofthe reaction described is probably 1,3-bis-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5-dihydroxy-Z-imidazolidinone,

The reaction probably produces some low molecular weight polymer,however, the major part of the crosslinking of the precursor occursafter application of the composition of this invention to the textilewhen the precursor is cured at elevated temperatures. The liquid productcan be mixed, after cooling, with the other ingredients of thecompositions of this invention or may be diluted with water before suchmixing.

The water soluble organic acid component of the composition of thisinvention are all known carboxylic acids or sulfonic acid salts.Representative such components include glycolic acid [HOCl-l CO H],lactic acid [CH CH(OH)CO H], glyceric acid [HOCH C- H(OH)CO,H],3-hydroxypropionic acid [HOCH CH- CO H], gluconic acid [HOCH,(CHOH)CO,H], glycine [NH Cl-l CO l-ll, B-alanine [NHzCHgCHzCOgH],4-aminobutyric acid [NH (CH CO H], 2-

3 aminobutyric acid [CH CH CH(NH )CO l-I], 2- aminooctanoic acid [CI-I(CH CH(NH )CO H],

)CO I-I], proline (2-carboxypyrrolidine) and hydroxy proline(4-hydroxy-2-carboxypyrrolidine), tartaric acid [HO CCI-I(OH)CH(OH)COH], malic acid [I-IO CC- H(OH)CH CO H], citric acid [HO CCI-I C(OH)- (COH)CH CO H], isocitric acid [HO CCI-I(OH)CH- (CO H)CH CO H], glutamicacid [HO CCH(NH )(CI-I CO H], aspartic acid [HO CCH(NH )CH CO I-I],dihydroxyglutaric acid, taurine [H N -Cl-I CH SO sodium isethionate[HOCH CH SO Na], sodium l-hydroxy-3-propane sulfonate. Preferably theyare saturated hydrocarbon acids and salts of two to 6 carbon atoms,thereof. Preferably also the substituents on the acid or sulfonic saltare hydroxyl or amino.

The R groups of the anionic surface active agents are represented byalkyl, alkaryl, or alkenyl. Representative alkyl groups include decyl,dodecyl, tetradecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, docosyl, tetracosyl, hexacosyl,and the like. Preferably the aryl group in the alkaryl substituent inphenyl or naphthyl, Representative such alkaryl groups includedodecylphenyl, isopropylnaphthyl, butylphenyl, eicosylphenyl,methylnaphthyl, hexadecylnaphthyl, and the like. Representative alkenylgroups include oleyl, decenyl, hexaeicosenyl and the like. Thus, thealkyl, alkaryl and alkenyl groups may contain straight chain moieties orbranched chain moieties. Moreover, the CI-I chains may be aliphatic orcycloaliphatic in nature. Preferred surface active agents include thesodium salts of alkanesulfonic acids of the formula R"'(SO ,Na),, whereR is alkyl of 10-26 carbon atoms (most preferably 12-20), and x is acardinal number of 1 through 3; the sodium salts of sulfate esters offatty alcohols of the formula R' O- SO Na where R is alkyl of 10-20carbon atoms; and the sodium sulfate mono-esters of ethoxylatedalkylphenols of the formula R O(C H O),,SO Na wherein R is alkylphenylof 12-20 carbon atoms and n is a cardinal number of 4-40.

The cations used in the anionic surface active agent can be alkalimetal, e.g., Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs; ammonium or lower alkyl substitutedammonium, i.e. R "'N where each R is hydrogen or lower alkyl (C -(I orlower hydroxy alkyl substituted ammonium, i.e. R NH where each R'' ishydrogen or C C hydroxyalkyl.

In the compositions of this invention the three ingredients are combinedin the weight ratios as desired in the treating baths from which thetextiles are padded. The compositions, on a dry solids or activecomponent basis, should contain from 1/12 to 10/3 parts organic acid perpart of durable-press resin and from l/60 to /1 part of anionic oramphoteric surface active agent per part of durable-press resin. That isthe ratio of organic acid to durable-press resin will be from 1:12 to:3, while the ratio of surface active agent to durablepress resin willbe from 1:60 to 5: 1. These ratios are all calculated on a dry solids oractive ingredient basis and it must be borne in mind that the permanentpress resin and surface active agents used herein may not be 100 percentactive ingredient products. Indeed some may be percent or more inactiveingredient.

Preferred compositions of this invention include those wherein the watersoluble organic acid is the saturated hydrocarbyl carboxylic aciddefined as in the Summary above, especially those where the acidcontains between two and six carbons and between one and five suchsubstituents. Most preferably the acid is gluconic acid or tartaricacid. Preferred compositions of this invention also include thosewherein the surface active agent is anionic, especially wherein thesurface active agent is a mixture of C -C alkane sulfonate salts of analkali metal. The most preferred composition of this invention is onecomprising about 1 part of gluconic acid (component B) and about 0.5part of the C C alkane sulfonate sodium salt mixture per part of thedurable press resin precursor.

In preparing the compositions of this invention for application totextiles, the solids or active ingredients are diluted with water to thedesired concentration. This concentration will thus depend on how muchis to be applied to the textile. Preferably the amount of durable-pressresin precursor present in the pad bath should be such as to supply fromabout 3 to about 12 percent on weight of fabric (OWF) of the resin;while the amount of the water soluble organic acid should be sufficientto supply from about 1 to about 10 percent OWF of the acid, and theamount of the surface active agent should supply from about 0.2 to about15 percent OWF. The preferred composition will be such as to supplyabout 6 to about 8 percent OWF of resin, about 8 percent OWF of gluconicacid and about 5 percent OWF of the mixed C C alkane sulfonate.

The amount of each ingredient of the composition of this inventionneeded in the pad bath (called on weight of bath, or OWB) to provide adesired OWF figure can be determined by the formula percent OWF percentOWB X wet pickup/) Percent wet pickup is the percent increase in weightof the textile just after treatment compared to its dry weight prior totreatment. Thus if a percent OWF of 10 percent is desired, and if thefabric just after immersion in the bath is squeezed to provide a percentwet pickup of 50 percent, then the percent OWB must be 20 percent, andthe components are added to the pad bath to provide a 20 percent OWB.

The compositions are generally applied to textiles by padding ordipping, removing excess liquid from the textile to obtain the requiredwet pickup, and drying the textile. In commercial practice, the dryingtemperature is usually kept to a minimum to avoid curing at this point.The curing of the treated textile can occur prior to any cutting orshaping operation (called precure) or it may occur after the textile isconverted into a garment and creases have been pressed in (calleddelayed or post cure). Curing temperatures are usually in the range of220 to 340F. (104174C.).

In addition to the compositions of the invention, pad baths from whichthe compositions are padded onto the textiles may also containadditional optional components. One type of such component is an acidcatalyst sometimes used to aid curing of durable press resins. Since thecompositions of this invention contain acids as a necessary component,the acid curing catalysts are not required except for those amino acidswhich normally exist as internal salts, for example taurine, and thesulfonic acid salts. The amount of catalyst may be in the range of 1/30to one-third part catalyst per part durable-press resin. Known usefulcatalysts include acidic metal salts such as magnesium chloride, zincnitrate or zinc chloride, amine hydrochlorides and mixtures of aluminumglycollate and glycollic acid.

Another optional component is a buffer which may be used to control thepH of the pad bath to avoid premature curing of the resin. The type andamount of buffer used will depend on the original and desired pH in thebath.

The compositions of this invention are primarily useful on textiles ofcotton or hydrophobic fibers such as polyesters or polyamides, or toblends thereof. Heretofore, permanent press resins were not generallyapplied to pure cotton fabrics because of the loss of strength by thecotton after curing. The compositions of this invention may be used oncotton with less strength loss.

As was indicated earlier, the compositions of this invention impartsoil-release properties to permanent press fabrics. Basically, thissimply means that fabrics treated with the compositions of thisinvention are more readily and effectively cleaned by laundering thanfabrics treated with the permanent press resin only. The effect isreasonably permanent, that is the soil-release properties persistthrough a fairly large number of launderings. The hand of fabricstreated with the compositions of the invention has been found quiteacceptable. Selectively in choosing the surface active agent will helpin achieving the hand desired.

The Examples which follow illustrate the compositions of this inventionand their use. The method used in the Examples for testing treatedfabrics to determine the ease or difficulty with which stains areremoved by normal washing procedures employs the reflectance of treatedand untreated samples as determined instrumentally. The testing methodsused in the following Examples use percent reflectance as determinedwith a Photovolt Reflectance Meter, Model 670, Photovolt Corp., NewYork, N. Y. The expression Soiling Value has been defined as reflectanceof soiled, washed sample reflectance of unsoiled, washed sample 2Xproviding an objective, quantitative measure of soiling value. Since thenumerical value of this expression as calculated above is usuallyfractional, the number used to contrast the effect of various treatmentsshown in the examples is W X The nature of the cloth used in testing itsweave, density, weight etc. has an effect on the absolute valuesattained and shown by W X 10 therefore an absolute value denotingsatisfactory soil resistance cannot be given. The contrast between goodand bad treatments is quite apparent however by this measure, lowernumbers indicating better soil release properties.

The recently developed AATCC test for soil-release described in TextileChemist and Colorist l, 45

% reflectance of soiled, washed sample) reflectance of unsoiled, washedsample) (1969) gives results parallel to the test described herein butdepends on visual rather than instrumental (Reflectance Meter)measurement. i

The oily soil used in most of the tests in the following Examples wasused oil," i.e.,.oil that has been used in automobile engines. This oiloffers a more stringent test than Nujol, which is sometimes used.Laundering of the samples is carried out in a Sears Roebuck & Co.Kenmore Model 600 automatic washer using AATCC Standard Detergent 124(with Brightener), and drying with a Kenmore" Model 600 Automatic Dryer.The test procedure is as follows: Soil is applied either beforelaundering or after one or more llaunderings to a one 6% inch by 6% inchswatch of each fabric to be tested, by mounting the swatch evenly on a 5inch embroidery hoop and placing 0.10 ml, by means of a microburet, ofthe oily soil on the center of the swatch. After the oil has soaked intothe cloth, the swatch is hung by two adjacent corners to complete thewicking and diffusion of the oil in the cloth for 18 hours. After 18hours of the total wicking time, the swatches are washed in the washerby filling the washer with water at 55C., adding g. of detergent,agitating to dissolve the detergent, adding as ballast 4.5 lbs. ofcotton poplin cut in 24 inch X 36 inch sections, and finally adding thesoiled swatches. The washer is run through its normal wash cycle, andthe swatches are then dried in the automatic electric dryer for about 25minutes. The reflectance of the soil treated area and of the unsoiledarea is measured, making 4 measurements of the soiled part and twomeasurements of the unsoiled area. The instrument is calibrated betweenreadings for the different swatches to avoid drift as a source ofinstrument error.

Many of the Examples, in defining the anionic surface active agentpresent, refer to it as White Oil Number 30, 40 or 50. The White Oilsare petroleum products which are mixtures of aliphatic and alicyclicbranched chain hydrocarbons having definite specific gravities, boilingranges and viscosity. The number (30, 40 or 50) of the White Oil is theSaybolt Viscosity Number. Although the composition of these White Oilscan vary somewhat, in general, No. 30 White Oil contains a major amountof C -C hydrocarbons; No. 40 White Oil contains a major amount of C -Chydrocarbons and No. 50 White Oil contains a major amount of C Chydrocarbons.

In the Examples, percents and parts are by weight unless otherwiseindicated.

EXAMPLE 1 A solution was prepared containing 18.0 percent Permafresh168, a durable-press resin composition sold by the Sun Chemical Corp.,New York, N. Y., and believed to be awater solution containing about 40percent of OHzOH I I-OHOH 1 I-CHOH (3112011 and prepared according toprocedures described in US. Pat. No. 3,049,446, about 8.0 percent of a31.5 percent aqueous solution (2.52 percent active ingredient) of sodiumalkane sulfonates derived from No. 40 White Oil, and 0.04 gram molecularweight of an organic acid (which is specifically named in Table I below)per 100 grams of solution, the remainder being Tficflrbellylie 86 38 76Tarlromc 109 73 86 water. A 65/35 polyester/cotton undyed outerwear Mane77 54 78 cloth of medium weight was padded in the solution and Tartaric42 70 x3 Citric 29 57 76 squeezed to 100 percent w et p1ckup, thenplaced '11- Aspamc 77 64 81 mediately In an oven at 280 F. for 6 minutesto dry and 5 Glutamic 76 59 90 cure in one operation. The treated clothwas then i 62 lsethromc acid.sodium tested for its SO11 releaseproperties as described above. salt 85 33 H9 Table I below gives soilingvalue for a number of com- Y Y- pane Sulfonrc 90 81 73 positions whichcontain the organic acid listed. The Acidsodium first column of numbersin Table I lists the soiling values obtained with the various acids whenthe treated EXAMPLE 2 fabric Sample was solled with 5011, thenlaundered, This experiment illustrates soiling values on the h te'sted yreflectance mehsuremehis; The Second 65/35 polyester/cotton fabric ofExample 1 obtained and third columns of numbers list the soiling valuesobusing p f h 1 (described in Example 1 as mined when treated fabricSamples were lauhdfil'ed 15 the durable-press resin, either gluconic ortartaric acid Once and five respectlvelyi before exposure to the thequantities shown are 100 percent of technical y 5011, and Subsequentlylaundered Once and tested grade chemicals and the same alkane sulfonatesurby reflectance meas When cloth samples were factant described inExample 1. The first two tests are treated with the same solutiondescribed above but i ff controls, h fi t w of figures in Table IIwithout the soil release composition of the invention sh win soilinvalues obtained with durable-press the soiling values obtained were inthe range of resin only, and the second row of figures showing soil-250-260. ing values obtained with a coapplication of the surface activeagent and the resin but without the organic acid TABLE I of thecomposition of the invention. Acid Soiling Value w x 10 Catalyst UTXused in these and some of the other One Five tests herein is an aminehydrochloride similar to those Laundflmg Lmmdermgs disclosed on lines 35and 36 of column 6 of U. S. Pat. Cure l? 9 No. 3,049,446. Catalyst X4 isa zinc nitrate catalyst.

Sorhng Soilmg Glycolic 69 66 75 Lactic 62 64 63 EXAMPLE 33-Hydroxypropionic 74 67 67 Glyceri? 87 :2 g? This experimentillustrates treatment as in Example 8:33; i; 59 33 2, but using 65/35polyester/cotton light-weight shirt- 3-Aminopropanoic ing fabric. Thesurfactant was the same as used in Ex- 79 91 ample l and Example 2.Results are shown in Table III. 4-Ammobutanolc 74 67 104 Aconitic 78 e7The acid used was gluconic acid.

TABLE 11 Percent on weight of fabric Soiling value, W 103 Surface activeagent (31.5% active After 1 laundering 5 launderings Resin (about 40%active ingredient) Acid ingredient) cure before soiling before soiling18.0, Permafresh 168; 2.4, Catalyst X4 5 18.0, Permairesh 168; 2.4,Catalyst UTX 1 3 18.0, Permafresh 168 9.0, gluconic acid. 69 18.0,Iermafresh 168. ..d0 87 20.0, Perrnal'resh 168. 4.0, gluconic acid. 6525.0, Permafresh 168. 8.0, gluconic acid. 79 15.0, Pcrrnafresh 168. 1.0,gluconic acid. 105 15.0, Permafresh 168. 2.0, gluconic acid. ..do 3215.0, Permafresh 168. 1.0, tartaric acid.... ..d0 32 15.0, Permafrcsh168- 15.0, gluconic acid. 10.0, 6 min. at 289 F 78 18.0, Permafrcsh168.-. 8.0 tartaric acid 8.0, 6min. at 250 F.; 6min. at 340 F 8.0,Permafrcsh 168 4.0, gluconic acid 2.0, 6 min. at 280 F 100 TAB LE IIIPercent on weight of fabric Resin, Perma- Soiling values, W 10 EXAMPLE 4This experiment illustrates a number of surface active'agents in thecompositions of the invention. The

Alkane sulfonate from largely I I I20 No. 50 White Oil containsunreacted oils and sodium laurate about 50% sulfonated product 5 resinused in these tests was Permafresh 183, another The relatively poorresults when octane and butane product of Sun Chemical Co. havingessentially the sulfonates were tested are apparent, these compoundssame character as Permafresh 168 already denot being withi'n thedefinition of the surface active scribed. The acid used was tartaricacid. The amounts agent employed were 12.0 percent on weight of fiber ofresin The next table, Table IV-B, shows test results with a precursor(which contained about 40 percent active number of common alkarylsulfonate surface active ingredient), 2.0 percent on weight of fiber oftartaric agents. acid, and 2 percent on weight of fiber of the surfaceactive agent (the active ingredient percent being shown TABLE in thefollowing tables. The fabric was dipped and squeezed to 100 percent wetpickup and placed in an Soiling Valuew x to oven at 340F. for 10 minutesfor drying and cure. All 24% Surfactant Catalyst Catalyst tests weremade with used oil as the 5011 applied after UTX laundering the treatedfabric once. The soiled fabric Disodium dodcyldiphenylethm 70 H0 wasthen laundered once and tested for soiling value. disulfonate 45% activeingre- The surface active agents tested were all commercial i gg fiz grgg products. Application of resin was made both with and g h g lf t 7070 without a curing catalyst (catalyst UTX) and illustrates in isopropylalcohol 32% active ingre ient the fact thattheir use may be optional,depending on lsopmpylated naphthalene Sub no 150 the compositions of theinvention that are used. Results 25 some acid in isopropyl alcohol areshown in the following tables of soiling value tests f 1 g mgretiflem 6o80 on 65/35 l )acron lcotton, the outerwear fabric previz fg z g z i gEgg fi s; ously described. ingredient The soiling value test resultswith a number of differ- A R l f 1 b f ent alkane sulfonate surfaceactive agents are shown in r ts 0 P mg Va tests wl a num f 0 merciallavailable surface active a ents which are all Table lV-A below. y g

sulfate monoesters of fatty alcohols are shown in Table TABLE IV-A IV-CSoiling Value w x l0 TABLE IV-C No 2.4% Surfactant Catalyst CatalystSoilmg Value W X 10 UTX 2.4% Alkane sulfonate from No. 40 80 80 N0Catalyst White Oil as in previous Surfactant Catalyst UTX examples 3l.5%active ingre Sodium lauryl sulfate 100% 110 50 dient mostlymonosulfonate Crude oleyl alcohol sodium 100 140 Sodium octane sulfonate100% 250 260 40 sulfate 18% active ingredient active ingredient Sulfatedcetyl alcohol with 170 190 Sodium butane sulfonate 100% 350 370petroleum fraction 10% sulactive ingredient fated ll% alcohol-hydro-Alkane sulfonate from N0. 40 70 70 carbon White Oil about 40% activeTriethanolamine salt of C1, ingredient largely polysulalcohol sulfateabout 30% fonates active ingredient 90 100 Alkane sulfonate from No. 3070 mo Mixed C,,C alcohol sulfates 100 70 White Oil about 22% active 26%active ingredient ingredient mostly monosulfonate I I. A number ofamphoteric surfactants from the wellfllijgfggfiggfi ggf 150 knownbetaine class were tested as with the other surabout 48% activeingredient 50 factants. Procedure was the same as in the previous gzfizf g i Phcnoxy tests, and results are shown in Table lV-D. In thesetests 0 e 8 no fi suifonate from largely 50 m0 two types of fabric weretested, the outerwear fabric o- 50 White Oil contains used in the othertests being designated Type A, while t eii ri te ih o iii v2:3 :32,another 65/3 5 polyester/cotton dyed fabric of a tighter 40% sulfonatedmaterial weave is designated Type B.

TABLE ii -D Soiling value, WXIO3 Fabric type B Fabric type A 2.4% N0catalyst No catalyst Surfactant catalyst UTX catalyst UTX c-Cetylbetaine, 25% active ingredient solution.. 180 160 c-Decyl betaine, 25%active ingredient solution 210 200 N-octadecyl betaine, 25% activeingredient solnt 190 180 80 70 N-stearyl betaine, 25% active ingredientsolution. 190 70 8O N-liexadecyl betaine, 25% active ingredient;solution 200 70 7O When both the surfactant and the tartaric acid areomitted, the soiling value of W X 10 for Fabric 8 are 600-700 and forFabric A, 200-300.

EXAMPLE 5 In this example a group of preferred surfactants were testedat higher proportions than previously. The cloth used was 65/35Dacr0n/cotton of Example 1. The formulation included 6.0 percent onweight of fiber of Permafresh 168 and 8.0 percent on weight of fiber ofgluconic acid, in addition to the surfactants listed in Table V at thepercent on weight of fiber shown. The treated cloth was placed in anoven at 280F. for 6 minutes to dry and cure. Used oil was employed as asoil and was applied to the treated cloth without previous laundering.

Soiling values are listed in Table V.

TABLE V Soiling Value W X 10 4% 10% Surfactant Surfactant on wt. of onwt. of fabric fabric 16 Surfactant Alkane sulfonate based on 21 No. 50White Oil contains some unreacted oil and sodium stearate 40% sulfonatedproduct, 70% solids Alkane sulfonate based on No. 40 White Oil Soln.containing 31.5% active ingredient Alkane sulfonate based on No. 40White Oil contains less mono and more polysulfonate than surfactantabove about 40% active ingredient Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate inisopropyl alcohol about 32% active ingredient Alkane sulfonate based onNo. 30 White Oil mostly monosulfonate about 22% active ingredientDisodium dodecyldiphenylether disulfonate 45% active ingredient made bymethod disclosed in U.S. 2,081,876 lsopropylated naphthalene sulfonicacid sodium salt 88% active ingredient The preceding representativeexamples may be varied within the scope of the present totalspecification disclosure, as understood and practiced by one skilled inthe art, to achieve essentially the same results.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understoodtherefrom. The invention is not limited to the exact details shown anddescribed for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in theart.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A durable-press soil-release composition consisting essentially of A.from about 3 to 12 parts by weight ofa permanent press aminoplast resinprecursor that is formed by reacting an aqueous solution offormaldehyde, glyoxal and urea in a mole ratio of about 2.5-2.0/1.0/1.0at a pH of about 4 to about 6 and at a temperature of between about25-95C. for between about one-half hour and 72 hours;

B. from about 1 to 10 parts by weight of gluconic acid or salt thereof;and

C. at least one surface active agent selected from 1. anionic surfaceactive agents selected from RO- SO M, R(SO M),,, RO(C H O),,SO M,

2. amphoteric surface active agents selected from e t RN CHz C0 where R"is alkyl of 10-18 carbon atoms and b is 1 or 2; and

} p Y mcHm where R is alkyl of 10-18 carbon atoms.

2. Process for imparting durable-press and soilrelease properties totextiles which comprises treating the textile with an aqueous solutionof the composition of claim 1 to deposit on the textile from about 6 toabout 8 percent of resin, about 8 percent of gluconic acid and about 5percent of the surface active agent, all based on the weight of textile,and curing the treated fabric at a temperature of between about 104C.and about 171C.

3. Fabric treated with the composition of claim 1.

2. amphoteric surface active agents selected from
 2. Process forimparting durable-press and soil-release properties to textiles whichcomprises treating the textile with an aqueous solution of thecomposition of claim 1 to deposit on the textile from about 6 to about 8percent of resin, about 8 percent of gluconic acid and about 5 percentof the surface active agent, all based on the weight of textile, andcuring the treated fabric at a temperature of between about 104*C. andabout 171*C.
 3. Fabric treated with the composition of claim 1.